Children's home run by Kirklees Council in Kirklees

Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC356963 1 SC356963 Registered provider: Kirklees Metropolitan Council

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

The children’s home is owned and run by a local authority. The home is registered to provide care for up to four children who may have social and emotional difficulties. At the time of the inspection, four children were living in the home.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in August 2018.

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This monitoring visit

This children’s home was judged to be inadequate at the full inspection on 16 and 17 May 2023. This was because leaders and managers failed to take appropriate action to protect the children from serious harm. Ofsted issued a restriction of accommodation notice, which prevents further children from moving in to the home, and two compliance notices under regulations 12 and 13. Ofsted also raised a further four requirements. The action taken to address some of the requirements have not been considered as part of this monitoring visit.

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This monitoring visit

The purpose of this monitoring visit was to review the progress and the action taken to meet the compliance notices and review the restriction of accommodation notice. This monitoring visit included a review of documents and interviews with the staff. The inspector saw two children during the visit, and both have positive relationships with staff.

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This monitoring visit

Two steps that were set in the regulation 12 and 13 compliance notices were not met. These notices have been reissued as a result of this inspection and the restriction of accommodation notice remains.

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This monitoring visit

Staff failed to make suitable arrangements to support one child, who was reported missing, to return home during the night. This does not provide the children with a positive message that the staff care about them and will act to keep them safe. This practice also exposes the children to the risk of harm. The registered manager acted Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC356963 2 without delay and informed all the staff of what their roles and responsibilities are during their night-time duties. Furthermore, staff who are on the sleep-in shift have been informed of their expectations.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have yet to identify how they can assure themselves that the children’s welfare and safety will be maintained should a child need to be held on the floor. The current recording system still does not make it clear how and who will monitor the breathing of any child being held.

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This monitoring visit

The manager has informed Ofsted of significant incidents; there has been one since the last inspection. Ofsted has had the necessary oversight to ensure that the appropriate action has been taken by the manager to maintain the safety and well- being of the children.

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This monitoring visit

Staff’s action to tackle and manage bullying has been successful. All children engaged well in a group session, sharing their personal experiences of being a victim of bullying. As a result, there has been no further bullying incidents in the home.

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This monitoring visit

While leaders and managers have identified a plan to upskill the staff and encourage morale, this training has yet to be completed. This, and a lack of action from the managers to address the clear divisions that remain between the staff team, creates inconsistency for the children. Staff say that this divide does effect the children.

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This monitoring visit

Leaders and managers have failed to ensure that all of the staff receive good-quality supervision sessions. In addition, the lack of opportunity for the staff to reflect on their practice, impedes their ability to develop their practice. This hinders the staff’s ability to provide a consistent level of good care to the children.

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This monitoring visit

The manager is supported by a service manager. Together, they oversee and monitor the operation of the home. Improvements and the steps taken to adapt organisational procedures help the managers to focus on the areas that matter most. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC356963 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

16/05/2023 Full Inadequate 14/06/2022 Full Requires improvement to be good 04/11/2021 Interim Improved effectiveness 09/08/2021 Full Requires improvement to be good Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC356963 4

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply with the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

* The leadership and management standard is that the registered person enables, inspires and leads a culture in relation to the children’s home that—

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Requirement Due date

helps children aspire to fulfil their potential; and promotes their welfare.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to—

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Requirement Due date

lead and manage the home in a way that is consistent with the approach and ethos, and delivers the outcomes, set out in the home’s statement of purpose;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff work as a team where appropriate;

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Requirement Due date

ensure that staff have the experience, qualifications and skills to meet the needs of each child. (Regulation 13 (1)(a) (2)(a)(b)(c)) 31 July 2023

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Requirement Due date

*The protection of children standard is that children are protected from harm and enabled to keep themselves safe.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

assess whether each child is at risk of harm, taking into account information in the child’s relevant plans, and, if necessary, make arrangements to reduce the risk of any harm to the child;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to understand how to keep safe;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to identify and act upon signs that a child is at risk of harm; 31 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC356963 5 understand the roles and responsibilities in relation to protecting children that are assigned to them by the registered person;

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Requirement Due date

are familiar with, and act in accordance with, the home’s child protection policies;

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Requirement Due date

that the home’s day-to-day care is arranged and delivered so as to keep each child safe and to protect each child effectively from harm. (Regulation 12 (1) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vii)(b))

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so. (2) In particular, the standard in paragraph requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

support each child’s learning and development, including helping the child to develop independent study skills and, where appropriate, helping the child to complete independent study;

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Requirement Due date

promote opportunities for each child to learn informally;

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Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(ii)(v)(vii)) 31 July 2023

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Requirement Due date

The care planning standard is that children—

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Requirement Due date

receive effectively planned care in or through the children’s home; and

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Requirement Due date

have a positive experience of arriving at or moving on from the home. (Regulation 14 (1)(a)(b)) 31 July 2023

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must complete a review of the quality of care provided for children ("a quality of care review") at least once every 6 months.

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Requirement Due date

In order to complete a quality of care review the registered person must establish and maintain a system for monitoring, reviewing and evaluating— 31 July 2023 Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC356963 6 the quality of care provided for children;

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Requirement Due date

the feedback and opinions of children about the children’s home, its facilities and the quality of care they receive in it; and

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Requirement Due date

any actions that the registered person considers necessary in order to improve or maintain the quality of care provided for children.

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Requirement Due date

After completing a quality of care review, the registered person must produce a written report about the quality of care review and the actions which the registered person intends to take as a result of the quality of care review ("the quality of care review report").

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Requirement Due date

supply to HMCI a copy of the quality of care review report within 28 days of the date on which the quality of care review is completed; and

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Requirement Due date

make a copy of the quality of care review report available on request to a placing authority, if the placing authority is not the parent of a child accommodated in the home.

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Requirement Due date

The system referred to in paragraph (2) must provide for ascertaining and considering the opinions of children, their parents, placing authorities and staff. (Regulation 45 (1) (2)(a)(b)(c) (3) (4)(a)(b) (5))

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Requirement Due date

*These requirements are subject of a compliance notice.

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Information about this inspection

The purpose of this visit was to monitor the action taken and the progress made by the children’s home since its last Ofsted inspection.

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Information about this inspection

This inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000. Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC356963 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Kirklees Metropolitan Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: Civic Centre 3, Huddersfield, Yorkshire HD1 2EY

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Inspector

Gemma McDonnell, Social Care Inspector Inspection report for children’s home - monitoring visit: SC356963 8 to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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Inspector

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Inspector

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